As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in nearly every industry, Eckerd College is taking a broader approach to teaching students how to understand, question and responsibly use the technology. Two recent Winter Term courses offered a glimpse into how the College is expanding AI education beyond traditional computer science classrooms and into communication, writing and cultural analysis.
The courses—AI Culture and Communication, taught by assistant professor of communication Julia Hildebrand, Ph.D., and Writing in an AI World, led by associate professor of rhetoric Alexis Ramsey-Tobienne, Ph.D.—focused on how generative AI influences language, creativity, ethics and everyday decision-making.
Faculty members across disciplines have been gradually incorporating AI into their curricula for several years, reflecting its growing presence in professional environments and daily life. Hildebrand says student interest has risen alongside public awareness. Research supports that trend: a Digital Education Council study conducted last year found that the vast majority of college students worldwide already rely on AI tools in some aspect of their academic work.
While Eckerd has long offered computer science courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Evolutionary Computation, the Winter Term classes marked a shift toward examining AI through a human-centered lens. Students were encouraged to explore not just how AI works, but what it means for society, creativity and personal responsibility.
Hildebrand’s course emphasized discussion and critical analysis of generative AI systems. Students examined how these tools are trained, what kinds of data they rely on and where their limitations lie. She stressed that AI does not “understand” information in a human sense but instead predicts patterns based on existing data, which can lead to errors or misleading outputs.
A key lesson centered on accountability. Students were reminded that AI users—not the technology itself—are responsible for verifying information and ensuring ethical use. Classroom assignments made those limitations visible. When students relied heavily on AI to summarize readings for presentations, the results were often vague and lacked originality, highlighting the importance of human insight and creativity.
Despite those shortcomings, AI became a powerful tool for creative experimentation. Final projects ranged from environmental advocacy campaigns and fictional games to music videos and original songs. Some students also explored the darker ethical implications of AI, including voice cloning and simulated digital personas. In one case, an AI-generated “friend” unexpectedly began mimicking disordered eating behaviors, raising concerns about psychological risks and unintended consequences.
Environmental impacts were also part of the discussion. Students examined how AI data centers consume significant amounts of energy and water, prompting questions about sustainability as AI use continues to grow.
Senior Camryn Batycki, an international business major from Florida with minors in marketing and Spanish, used her final project to blend Japanese with the fictional Na’vi language from the Avatar films. After spending a semester in Japan, she was curious to see how AI would merge a real language with an invented one, using Japanese sentence structure with Na’vi vocabulary.
Batycki says the course reinforced the importance of digital literacy. She noted that while AI can be a valuable tool, it can also produce false or harmful information if used carelessly. In one classroom experiment, she tested how easily AI could be manipulated by asking it to write a fictional screenplay about a bank robbery. The system generated detailed scenarios that raised serious concerns about misuse.
Junior Michael D’avena, a communication and environmental studies major from Virginia, collaborated with musicians from the band Uncle Lucius to create a song addressing environmental issues using generative AI. While impressed by the quality of the result, he remains wary of how quickly AI is advancing and whether adequate oversight exists.
Several students echoed those concerns, emphasizing the need for regulation and ethical standards as AI becomes more autonomous and influential.
Given the strong student engagement and the rapidly evolving nature of the technology, Hildebrand has proposed expanding her Winter Term course into a full semester offering. She says the subject matter will require constant revision, but the payoff is essential preparation for a future shaped by AI.
By embedding artificial intelligence into disciplines beyond computer science, Eckerd College is positioning students not just to use AI tools, but to critically evaluate their impact—an increasingly vital skill in an AI-driven world.
